GOP Planning Intervention |for Loose Cannon Trump

(CN) – The national GOP is reportedly planning an intervention of sorts to try to rein in Donald Trump, its loose cannon presidential candidate who once again embroiled himself in controversy Tuesday, this time by refusing to endorse three of the party’s leading lights House Speaker Paul Ryan, Arizona Sen. John McCain and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte. But Trump claimed in Daytona Beach, Florida this afternoon that his campaign is going fine and his staff has never been more together. “I would say right now it’s the best we’ve been in terms of being united,” he said. Trump also announced his campaign raised $80 million in July to support his bid as well as the Republican Party. The numbers mark a significant upswing since May, when Trump was badly outraised by Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. He now has $37 million cash-on-hand. Clinton raised $63 million in July for her campaign, as well as $26 million for the Democratic National Committee and state parties, bringing her total monthly fundraising to about $90 million. Trump’s $80 million includes approximately $64 million raised through digital and direct mail operations, the campaign says. According to multiple sources, Republican chairman Reince Priebus, who is a close friend of Speaker Ryan’s, is finally ready to confront Trump about his shoot-from-the-hip style of presidential campaigning. Republicans inside and outside of Trump’s campaign are brainstorming how to influence the brash billionaire after a series of startling statements The GOP is currently assembling a small group of well-respected members of the possibly including Trump allies Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, and Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House, mutliple reports say.. Apparently, the intervention has been deemed necessary after Priebus spoke both with campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Trump family members, who are said to agree that Trump needs to stop picking fights within his own party, but appear unable to stop him. In the meantime, Wisconsin’s GOP governor, Scott Walker, says he’s skipping a Donald Trump rally in Green Bay on Friday, the latest sign of the growing rift the presidential candidate has caused within the Republican party this week. Walker is a close friend of House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. In interviews with several news organizations Tuesday, Trump said he’s not yet ready to endorse Ryan, who faces a primary contest next week. Walker says he’ll be visiting northern Wisconsin, meeting with residents and local officials who are recovering from a damaging flash flood last month. On July 12, a flash floods caused extensive damage in eight counties in northern Wisconsin, damaging a number of homes and businesses, as well as roads and highways. Walker declared a state of emergency in the area the same day. The Trump campaign said Walker will join Trump at future events if they don’t interfere with the governor’s work. Another Wisconsin Republican, Sen. Ron Johnson, also said he won’t be at the Trump event citing a scheduling conflict. Johnson, who is running for re-election, has criticized Trump’s actions in a dispute with the family of slain Army captain, but says he continues to support him for president. On Wednesday, as he has at leasat twice since being named Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence did a bit of damage control and endorsed Ryan in his primary fight Wednesday. Pence told the Fox News Channel that Trump supported his decision to back Ryan as they work to unite the Republican Party. Trump, Pence said, “strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday’s primary and I’m pleased to do it.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.